Keeping alive the Islamic tradition of scholarship, insight, and purification...one day at a time.

Sunday, May 07, 2006

LESSON OF THE DAY 544

Ayahs of the Day:We have fastened the fate of every human being to his neck; and We will produce a record for him on the Day of Resurrection, set forth before him unrolled. "Read your record: your own soul suffices today to take account against you." [17: 13,14]

Hadith of the Day:Verily Allah does not look at your external forms and your wealth, but He looks at your intentions and actions. [Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:No one can perform good deeds, unless he possesses a firm belief in Allah Most High. If a person's belief is unsound, he is very weak in performing good actions. [Luqman Hakeem]

Guidance of the Day:Sincerity: Sincerity (ikhlas) means to intend Allah in one's acts of obedience. The motive must only be the proximity and good pleasure of Allah Most High. This motive must not be contaminated by personal motives of gain or the pleasure of others. Elimination of ostentation is precisely the acquisition of sincerity.

Benefits of Sincerity: No matter how righteous and no matter how trivial an act may be; if it is accompanied by sincerity, it will be permeated with baraka (blessing). Rewards will increase in proportion to the degree of sincerity. For this very reason has it come to us in a hadith: "Half a measure (of corn) given by my companions is nobler than gold equal to Mount Uhad given in charity by others." The secret is the degree of sincerity. The sincerity of the Companions is far superior to the sincerity of others. This reward is in terms of their sincerity and love.

The highest stage of sincerity is the rendering of an act for the sake of Allah Most High alone, creation having absolutely no connection in one's motive. A lesser degree of sincerity is that the act is rendered to please people but not motivated by any desire for worldly gain. The motive is merely to please others. The third degree of sincerity is to render an act without having any motive. The motive is neither the religion nor the world. This too is sincerity: it is the absence of ostentation. [The Path of Perfection]

Food for Thought:When God speaks through your hands and smiles upon the earth through you because you are an unconditional giver, a purposeful being, asking nothing of anyone, prosperity will be your reward.